Bentley loses chief of staff, appoints former speaker

Governor Robert Bentley's Chief of Staff announced during a staff meeting Wednesday morning that he would resign his post, effective May 19.

David Perry had served as a top member of Governor Bentley's staff since he came into office in January 2011.

The governor moved quickly to announce Perry's interim replacement. Former Alabama House Speaker Seth Hammett will assume the role of Chief of Staff. The former Democratic House Speaker served in the governor's cabinet once before, as the director of the Alabama Development Office at the start of Bentley's term. ADO is now the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Hammett will not receive a salary for his work serving the governor.

Hammett works for Powersouth in Andalusia as its Vice President of Business Development. A spokesman for the company said Hammett will remain employed by Powersouth and on the payroll with the company for the duration of his time serving the governor.

The governor's communications director said the arrangement has been cleared by the Alabama Ethics Commission and added that its identical to the terms under which Hammett served as ADO director. Powersouth is a utility that is a regulated by a 40-member board.

Perry is leaving the governor's administration to work for Protective Life Insurance in Birmingham in a newly created position of Vice President of Operational Risk according to a press release on the company's website. His responsibilities will include helping to run the company's Enterprise Risk Management Department.

In the announcement from the governor's office, Perry said he accepted the position in Birmingham, "In large part, to be closer to his family."